Laser photocoagulation around the foci of toxoplasma retinochoroiditis: a descriptive statistical analysis of 35 patients with long-term follow-up.

Thirty-five patients with toxoplasma retinochoroiditis, receiving medical treatment and then treated with laser photocoagulation around the foci, were retrospectively evaluated for the risk of recurrence of the retinochoroiditis with a Kaplan-Meier representation. The recurrence rates with 95% symmetric confidence intervals were: at 1 year, 12.7 + or - 13%, at 2 years, 19.8 + or - 15%; at 3 years, 24.0 + or - 16%; at 4 years, 33.3 + or - 19%; at 5,6 and 7 years, 53.5 + or - 21%; at 8 and 9 years 66. 8 + or - 22%. With the data provided by our series, it is not possible to show the efficacy of laser photocoagulation as a prevention of recurrence in toxoplasma retinochoroiditis. Moreover, because of their heterogeneity, the recurrence rates from the literature cannot provide precise data for a comparison. Concerning the laser-induced thermal damage, the potential therapeutic mechanism of the laser procedure is discussed.